Our ideas for romantic weekends near Paris

1. Loire Valley Lodges | Romanticism and serenity perched in the trees

You only have to travel 250 km to enjoy a unique experience in the heart of lush vegetation. The tree house concept has come a long way in recent years, and at Loire Valley Lodges, owners Anne-Caroline and Bertrand Frey offer a fully realized version of it, with this dream setting for a romantic weekend near Paris. Comfort and style rival those of 5-star hotels, while retaining an authentic simplicity. The 300 hectares of private forest and the top-of-the-range in-room and culinary services will appeal to couples in search of originality. Just a stone's throw from Tours and the Royal Château d'Amboise, these 18 eco-designed wooden lodges, perched on stilts four meters above ground, boast an arty, refined decor. The 20-metre-long heated swimming pool, surrounded by works of art, combines aesthetics and relaxation for a moment of complicity for two.

Housed in a former farmhouse, chef Thomas Besnault's Ardent restaurant offers a singular cuisine based on foraging and inspired by the nearby forest. The Promenade, Découverte and Aventure menus take you on a journey along forest paths, with dishes such as scallop carpaccio with bramble oil and buds and a garden rose gel, or venison tartare with watercress mayonnaise, topped with a brunoise of red onion and a spoonful of caviar. In the second Asperatus summer table, a menu of Finger Food boards and an ultra-convivial raclette bar.

In terms of activities, you can choose between guided relaxation sessions, a wide range of in-room massages, or an art trail of monumental contemporary works along an inspiring stroll.

Last but not least, what could be better than having your breakfast delivered directly to your lodge by pulley? The adventure effect is guaranteed, with honey from the estate, jams from the region, pastries and other seasonal fruits in the basket... And if anything's missing, you can contact reception by walkie-talkie, and be dropped off at your lodge in a buggy if it's already dark. It's almost like being in the wild, but with your better half.

Loire Valley Lodges
Prices from 400 euros per night
1 Allée de la Duporterie, 37320 Esvres
loirevalleylodges.com

2. A little further afield but well worth the detour... Domaine de la Brestesche (2 hours by train, 20 minutes by cab)

Just a stone's throw from a château reflected in a mirror of water, this hotel in Brittany offers a bucolic retreat. The real life of a contemporary châtelain! Perfect for an introspective interlude or a breath of fresh air with the whole family. Here, the 15th century flirts unabashedly with the hushed comfort of outbuildings bearing the Relais & Châteaux five-star label.

Metamorphosed into rooms, suites and villas, located in the hotel's main building, in the former sheepfold or in the elegant Régisseur and Tilleul residences, these nests, whatever their category, offer wake-up calls with a view of the golf course or the slate roofs of the square courtyard and its century-old lime tree. The atmosphere is that of a well-kept family home, with tapestries, fine bed linen and tastefully chosen decorative details.

The tone is set right from breakfast, savored in bed or on the white tablecloths of Le Montaigu restaurant, as the mist rises over the pond and reveals the château's towers. At lunchtime or after dark, the cuisine, under the leadership of chef Filipe Silvestre, plays the local score and magnifies the Breton terroir. The highlight? A permaculture vegetable garden whose fruits and vegetables are sublimated for graphic dishes, echoing the clean lines of the landscape.

For golf enthusiasts, the 18-hole course winds its way between lakes and undergrowth, while walkers stroll along the estate's paths and the more contemplative sit on the terrace to watch the light glide over the stones.

Nestled in one of the wings, the spa - in partnership with Omnisens and Cinq Mondes - extends this timeless interlude. Before or after a treatment, you can take a dip in the pool beneath the bathed glass roof.

The feeling when you leave? The simple sensation of having spent time in a place that has been thought through down to the last detail, and that is deeply rejuvenating.

Domaine de la Bretesche
From 229 euros per night
Missillac
33 2 51 76 86 96
Official website

3. InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal | A sumptuous historic site in the heart of the forest

Luxury, serenity and elegance just 40 minutes from the capital - what more could you ask for? Château Mont Royal is a haven of peace in the heart of the Chantilly forest. Ideally located for a romantic weekend close to Paris, this elegant pavilion, built by composer Fernand Halphen in the last century for his wife, welcomes lovers in search of the majesty of the landscape and the beauty of the interiors of a prestigious castle.

The 109 rooms and suites are classic in style, some with fantastic forest views. Whether you opt for a cosy, premium or classic room, the soothing atmosphere of the premises extends as far as the eye can see into the surrounding forest, and all the way to the excellent Biologique Recherche spa. Expert treatments are complemented by a jacuzzi, sauna and heated indoor swimming pool for a delicious moment of relaxation for two.

On the dining front, La Brasserie, housed in the former smoking room, offers a bistronomic menu. For the more active, there's a golf course and horse-riding opportunities to enjoy the fresh air just a stone's throw from the capital.

InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal
Prices from 180 euros per night
Allée des Marronniers, route de Plailly, 60520 La Chapelle-en-Serval

4. Domaine du Roncemay | Country relaxation under the charm of Burgundy

Make an infidelity to frenetic Parisian life the time of a weekend 1h30 by train (or 1h40 by car), it's possible! Welcome to Chassy in the Yonne, starting point of the Wine Route, where Domaine de Roncemay has taken up residence. This former Burgundy hunting lodge offers 23 rooms and suites and two restaurants, one bistronomic, the other gastronomic, both led by young chef Clément Vergeat. Not forgetting the spa with its indoor and outdoor pools. On the agenda for your romantic weekend near Paris: a rejuvenating natural setting, tranquillity but also sporting activities with an 18-hole golf course nearby. A place that invites you to get away from it all, close to the Ile-de-France region.

Domaine du Roncemay
Prices from 184 euros per night
Boisserelle 89110 Chassy

5. Domaine de Primard | Elegance and calm amidst an abundance of flora and fauna

Located 70 kilometers from Paris in the Eure-et-Loir region, Domaine de Primard extends over 20 hectares of unspoilt countryside. Once the home of Catherine Deneuve, this 18th-century residence was transformed into a charming hotel in 2021 by Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher, founders of the Fontenille Collection. Featuring 39 rooms, including 9 suites with private terraces, Domaine de Primard stands out for its highly successful, embodied decor, with no lack of taste and plenty of imagination. Domaine de Primard has plenty to keep couples busy: a swimming pool, a spa and a gym... but above all, a sublime park on the banks of the Eure, with its romantic greenhouse and vegetable garden. After these moments of relaxation, Martin, the bistronomic restaurant, delights strollers with a gourmet seasonal menu featuring local produce and harvests from the kitchen garden.

Domaine de Primard
Prices from 370€ per night
Route départementale 16, 28260 Guainville

6. Casa Pertica | Intimate luxury in the Perche region of France

It may look like the South... but it's in the Perche region of France that this Italian-style guest house welcomes lovers in search of a getaway, just two hours from Paris. Nestled in the Parc Naturel Régional du Perche, this fully restored 17th-century farmhouse embodies discreet, refined luxury. Casa Pertica comprises three duplex cottages and a prestige suite called the Nicoletto. Bonus: an 11-metre swimming pool nestled in the heart of a generous natural setting.

When it comes to dining, Casa Pertica focuses on Italian gastronomy: a family-run trattoria, La Bergamasca, where you can enjoy traditional, authentic cuisine just 12 minutes from the guesthouse. But there's also a home service offer, designed for lovers in search of intimacy. Delicatessen, generous Italian dishes and made-to-measure aperitifs are served on your plate, without leaving your cocoon. More than just a romantic weekend close to Paris, Casa Pertica is a confidential interlude in the heart of the verdant landscapes of southern Normandy.

Casa Pertica
Prices from 171 euros per night
3 impasse Saint-Nicolas, 61260 Ceton